Children born and growing up in mining communities in Sinazongwe District are significantly impacted by mining activities, particularly in terms of health hazards. They are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of mining, including exposure to chemical waste and air pollution, which can have long-term health consequences. Furthermore, unfair displacement from communities and inadequate compensation by mining companies exacerbate the situation, affecting the physical, emotional, mental, social, and economic well-being of children. Consequently, many children, particularly girls and orphans, are at risk of various forms of abuse.
The Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) has been actively involved in addressing these challenges in Sinazongwe by implementing a self-savings-led village banking and investment model. This intervention aims to increase financial inclusion among the poor as a poverty reduction strategy, with a focus on empowering women and youth, who are the most vulnerable in rural and mining communities. 21 savings groups in both chiefdoms of Sinazongwe District have mobilized to participate in this initiative, with the goal of enhancing household income.
The Bulamachacha Savings Group, established in April 2023 for youths based in Nkandabbwe, is a notable success story. Facilitated by community social auditor Ms. Getrude Syapwaya, the group consists of 20 members, including 11 girls and 9 boys aged 12 to 28. They have been saving consistently since April last year, meeting weekly on Sundays. CEJ has provided training in entrepreneurship and child protection skills, empowering the group to engage in income-generating activities such as sand ferrying and sales, as well as maize cultivation. Notably, all group members attend Nkandabbwe Day Secondary School from grades 8 to 11.
To improve their social fabric in their community, the group has established soccer and netball teams, organizing tournaments with other youth teams every weekend. The community social auditor plays a crucial role in monitoring them and provideds support as needed.
In a recent ceremony held on Sunday, February 11th, the group organized a vibrant handover event with support from the social auditor. The ceremony aimed to provide school materials to three orphaned members who lacked the means to purchase them, despite the government’s free education policy. Utilizing funds from their savings, they purchased school supplies for their friends, including uniforms, bags, stationery, and textbooks.
Out of K9000 of their funds, they used K2800 to purchase the school items as follows:
1. Kelista Chikwayi, aged 17, is in grade 8 at Nkandabbwe School. She lost her mother and currently resides with her elderly father in Siapaka village. She received the following school materials:
– School uniforms
– One school bag
– Pair of shoes
– One mathematical set
– 10 big hardcover books
– Five pens
2. William Siantele, aged 16, is also in grade 8 at Nkandabbwe School. He lost his father and lives with his mother and siblings in Siapaka village. He received the following items:
– One school bag
– 10 big hardcover books
– One mathematical set
– Five pens
– Two pencils
3. Wonderful Phiri, aged 14, is in grade 8 at Nkandabbwe School. He lost his father and resides with his grandfather, vulnerable mother, and other relatives in Siapaka village. He also received the following items:
– One school bag
– 10 big hardcover books
– One mathematical set
– Five pens
– Two pencils
4. The remaining 17 members of the group each received a big hardcover book.
CEJ District Coordinator Mr. Jeff Kayamba commended the youths for their initiative, highlighting it as a significant achievement in the implementation of the self-saving-led village banking initiative. He emphasized that such actions align with the objectives of the Resilient Initiative for Sustainable Environment project, supported by Bread for the World Germany.
Catherin Chaluza, Chairperson of Bulamachacha Savings, expressed gratitude to CEJ for their support and highlighted the group’s aspirations to expand their economic activities, including starting a poultry project. The recipients of the school materials expressed their appreciation and pledged to prioritize education and savings to support themselves in the absence of full guardianship support.
This success story of the Bulamachacha Savings Group demonstrates the tangible impact of community-led initiatives in addressing socio-economic challenges and empowering youths in mining communities like Nkandabbwe.
